employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

French Connection

Is this your company?

French Connection Reviews

3.2

59% would recommend to a friend

(466 total reviews)

Apinder Singh Ghura

76% approve of CEO

43% positive business outlook

French Connection has an employee rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 466 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The French Connection employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail and wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

466 reviews
1.0
30 Mar 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lunch Break: The only respite in an otherwise bleak workday.

Cons

No Work-Life Balance: Expectations to work late and unpaid overtime are rampant, displaying a blatant disregard for employees' personal lives. Mental Health Ignored: The company shows no concern for employees' mental well-being, fostering a detrimental work atmosphere. Negative Feedback Culture: Instead of recognizing strengths, management fixates on weaknesses, leaving employees feeling undervalued and demoralized. Toxic Workplace Dynamics: The office resembles a high school clique, where backstabbing and self-preservation reign supreme. Employees are left unsupported and told to resort to YouTube for help. Gossip Culture: Continuous gossiping and whispering create an uncomfortable and unprofessional environment. Hostile Reception for Newcomers: New hires are met with disdain and ridicule, fostering a culture of walking on eggshells and perpetual exhaustion. Even non-paid interns are subjected to grueling 9 to 10-hour workdays, serving as nothing more than free labor. Intern Mistreatment: Witnessing current interns being humiliated, belittled, and enslaved by the design team paints a grim picture of the company's disregard for basic human decency. Dirty Work Delegated to Interns: Instead of shouldering their responsibilities, employees shirk their duties, leaving interns to handle menial tasks under the guise of preserving their outfits. Mockery of International Standards: In a fashion company, it's appalling that a design intern was ridiculed for using the metric system, a universally accepted standard. The ignorance displayed by the entire room is indicative of a deeply ingrained culture of disrespect and narrow-mindedness. Questionable Ethical Standards: The company's treatment of interns and disregard for international standards raises serious questions about its values and commitment to professionalism.These instances highlight the toxic nature of the workplace and serve as a warning to potential applicants. High Staff Turnover: The revolving door of employees leaving speaks volumes about the toxic environment. The company fails to retain talent, leading to a perpetuation of toxic behaviors. Inadequate Compensation: Salaries are laughable, and any hopes of gaining valuable experience are dashed by the reality of learning more at smaller companies. The allure of a big company is a facade. Social Pressure: Employees are guilt-tripped for not participating in group activities, further blurring the lines between personal and professional life and exposing the fakeness within the workplace. Declining Potential: Despite promising potential, the company is on a downward spiral, marred by its toxic culture.

5.0
9 Mar 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Had an absolutely amazing management team here. The manager and Assistant manager were brilliant, staff were always fully trained, task completed productively and quickly, all staff at all times were kept updated about everything going on within the company and store. Had massive respect for the whole operation of this store..... hence why I stayed for 9 years until the unfortunate closing of the store. Bonus and incentives available are some of the best around in retail, some months I would earn more than my wage in bonus and commission alone. Amazing 70% discount on clothes, and individual extra discount schemes given to all staff from day one of employment. Staff are also amazing, such a great tight knit group of people.

Cons

HR and head office are appalling. Slow and ineffective at dealing with staff, if it weren't for the manager at the Metro store, the store would have gone under years ago. Head office have no personal interest and invest no passion or care into their staff. Luckily the level of care and personal attention received from the Metro Centre management, compensated. During the redundancy process, head office completely dismissed the staff and managers, and treated them very very poorly, especially after some had given many years of exceptional service.

1.0
5 Apr 2024

BEWARE: THE TRUTH about French Connection....AVOID!

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Absolutely no pros whatsoever, this job has so much potential to be a good company as a brand itself but the people there are TOXIC! love to gossip, backstabbing, and will throw you under the bus to save their own backs - instead of fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.

Cons

I had the unfortunate experience of working with French Connection, and I must say it was utterly disappointing. Not only did they exhibit a lack of professionalism, but their unethical practices left a sour taste in my mouth. Firstly, let's talk about how they treat their employees. It's evident that once they're done with you, you're nothing more than yesterday's news. There's no consideration for the time and effort you've invested in the company. When they don't need you anymore, they dispose of you like a worn-out accessory, without a second thought. The lack of empathy and respect for their employees is truly appalling. While the company boasts about its high expectations and demands from employees, the compensation provided simply does not match the level of effort and dedication required. Moreover, they have no qualms about misleading people. Initially, they paint a rosy picture of the job description, enticing individuals with promises of exciting opportunities and growth. However, once you're in the door, they have no hesitation in changing the game entirely. Suddenly, the job you signed up for is nowhere close to what you're actually doing. It's a classic bait-and-switch tactic that reeks of dishonesty. It's evident that French Connection prioritises their bottom line over ethical business practices and employee well-being. Their disregard for honesty and integrity is concerning, to say the least. I would strongly advise anyone considering working with this company to proceed with extreme caution. You might find yourself disposable and misled before you even realise what's happened. While the allure of working for a brand like this may be tempting, the reality is that you'll likely find yourself overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. Save yourself the frustration and seek out employers who value and reward your hard work appropriately.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 466 Reviews

Glassdoor has 531 French Connection reviews submitted anonymously by French Connection employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if French Connection is right for you.